Niwa Nagashige, the eldest son of the loyal general Niwa Nagahide under Oda Nobunaga, entered the realm of warfare at the tender age of 12. His initial taste of battle occurred alongside his father during the confrontation against Shibata Katsuie under Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the Battle of Shizugatake. In the following year, at the age of 13, Nagashige stepped into the shoes of his ailing father and led the Niwa army at the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute.
Tragedy struck at the age of 14 when Niwa Nagashige found himself thrust into the position of the head of the Niwa clan and in charge of his father's extensive 1,230,000 koku estates following Nagahide's passing. While Nagashige's father was wed to an adopted daughter of their master, Oda Nobunaga, Nagashige's union was with Ho-onin, the actual 5th daughter of Nobunaga.
The shifting tides of power and alliances brought challenges to Nagashige's legacy. Accused of treachery during the 1585 attacks on the Toyama region, Toyotomi Hideyoshi demoted Nagashige from 1,230,000 koku to a mere 150,000 koku. Further setbacks occurred two years later during the Kyushu subjugation, with Nagashige's income reduced to a meager 40,000 koku. However, his valor at the Siege of Odawara led Hideyoshi to restore his fortunes, elevating his income to 120,000 koku.
Remaining loyal to the Toyotomi clan, Nagashige aligned himself with the Western forces under Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Sekigahara. This alliance resulted in the loss of his daimyo status and possessions. Recognizing Nagashige's value, Tokugawa Ieyasu granted him 10,000 koku and land at Futsuto in present-day Ibaragi Prefecture in 1603. The Niwa family name was fully reinstated after Nagashige's exemplary service in the Battles of Osaka in 1614 and 1615, where he fought under Tokugawa colors. He received lands at Edosaki along with 20,000 koku, followed by an increase to 50,000 koku and the Tanakura (Fukushima) Domain in 1622. In 1627, he was transferred to Shirakawa in modern-day Fukushima Prefecture, earning 100,700 koku. During his tenure, he expanded and reconstructed Komine Castle.
Niwa Nagashige breathed his last on April 30, 1637, just shy of his 66th birthday. His final resting place is at the Enmei-ji Temple in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, a testament to his enduring legacy in Japanese history.
See also
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Saito Tatsuoki
Saito Tatsuoki (6 September 1548 - 1573) was a daimyo of Mino Province during Japan's Sengoku period and the third-generation lord of the Saito clan. He was the son of Saito Yoshitatsu and grandson of Saito Dosan. His mother was a daughter of Azai Hisamasa, making him a nephew of Azai Nagamasa and a relative of Oda Nobunaga's first wife, Nohime, who was also a daughter of Saito Dosan.
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Kyogoku Tadataka
Kyogoku Tadataka (1593–1637) was a Japanese nobleman and the head of the Kyogoku clan during the early 17th century, a pivotal time marked by the Tokugawa consolidation of power. His childhood name was Kumamaro, and he hailed from a lineage claiming descent from Emperor Uda (868–897). Tadataka was the son of Kyogoku Takatsugu and one of his concubines, with his paternal grandfather being Kyogoku Takayoshi.
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Matsudaira Naomasa
The late Muromachi period, also known as the Sengoku period, was an era of continuous conflict and upheaval, often likened to periods of chaos in Chinese history. This turbulent era was brought to an end by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, with the support of loyal retainers, established the Edo Shogunate and became the ruler of Japan. Among Ieyasu’s descendants, Naomasa Matsudaira, his grandson, played a significant role during the Osaka Siege. He earned praise from his adversary, Nobushige Sanada (Yukimura Sanada), for his valor as a young warrior and maintained strong relations with successive Tokugawa shoguns.
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Ishikawa Kazumasa
Ishikawa Kazumasa (1534–1609) was a prominent Japanese retainer who began serving Tokugawa Ieyasu during his youth. Their relationship began in 1551 when both were hostages under the Imagawa clan. Kazumasa remained a loyal companion to Ieyasu, participating in key events such as the Siege of Terabe in 1558 and the Siege of Marune in 1560. After Ieyasu broke away from the Imagawa following the latter event, Kazumasa became a trusted retainer and administrator in his service.
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Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
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Ikeda Terumasa
Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
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Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
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Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
